Clothes drying machine



NOV 30, K CLARK CLOTHES DRYING MACHINE 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 18, 1952 Fig 3 INVENTOR. Kendall Clark BY Nov. 30, 1954 K. CLARK CLOTHES DRYING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1952 0 l 8 9 H w w 0 W0 5,4,. 000 co i 9 n 6 7 M m M a JNVENTOR. Kenda11 Clark BF 7 M, wwaw Alb s.

United States Patent CLOTHES DRYING MACHINE Kendall Clark, Chicago, Ill., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application September 18, 1952, Serial No. 310,292 15 Claims. (Cl. 34-75) The present invention relates to improved clothes drying machines of the spray-condenser type. A clothes drying machine of the type noted ordinar- 11y comprises a substantially horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted drum adapted to receive" clothes to be dried, wall structure cooperating with the drum and defining a passage communicating at the opposite ends thereof with two spaced-apart portions of the drum, the wall structure also defining spaced-apart heating and condensing chambers in the passage, as well as a sump disposed below the condensing chamber. The drum is rotated in order to tumble the contained clothes; and a current of air is circulated from the heating chamber through the drum into contact with the tumbling clothes and thence into the condensing chamber and back into the heating chamber. A heating unit is arranged in the heating chamber and is operative to heat the current of air passing therethrough; and a spray device is arranged in the condensing chamber and is operative to produce a spray of cool water therein in order to scrub the current of air passing therethrough so as to condense moisture and to remove lint therefrom, the water and the moisture and the lint accumulating in the sump. Further, an inlet conduit is operatively associated with the spray device and supplied with cool water under gauge pressure from the city water main; and a pump is provided that is operative to discharge to the exterior the water and the lint accumulating in the sump. Finally, the machine comprises an electric motor that is operative to rotate the drum and to produce the circulation of the current of air and to operate the pump.

In the operation of this machine, the spray of cool water in the condensing chamber is produced by convetting the-pressure head of the cool water in the inlet conduit into a corresponding velocity head, employing a nozzle, or the like; whereby the production of the spray of cool water in the condensing chamber is dependent entirely upon a proper gauge pressure of the cool water in the inlet conduit and consequently in the connected city water main. Thus in the event of a low gauge pressure of the cool water in the city water main, the overall operation of the machine is not satisfactory since the vaporiz' ing-condensing cycle thereof is interrupted; whereby operation of the machine is not productlve of the drying of the clothes, although the heating unit and the motor are operated. Moreover, the condition mentioned is not infrequent in some city water systems; and the condition may occur only during a short time interval in the cycle of operation. of the machine, resulting in failure of the machine to dry the clothes in its operating cycle and leading the user to the erroneous conclusion that the machine is out-of-order.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a clothes drying machine of the spraycondenser type, in which the production of the spray of cool water in the condensing chamber thereof is entirely independent of the pressure ofthe Water in the connected water supply system.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a clothes drying machine of the type noted, an arrangement including a motor driven impeller for producingfrorn a pool of cool water contained in a sump, a spray of the cool water in the condensing chamber disposed immediately thereabove inorder that the current of air passing through the condensing chamber is thoroughly scrubbed by the spray of cool water so as to condense moisture and to 2,695,460 Patented Nov. 30, 1954 moved from the current of air accumulating in the water in the pool.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a clothes drying machine of the type noted, an arrange ment of the character described, wherein the impeller also agitates the water in the pool contained in the sump so as to retain in suspension the lint contained therein.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the clothes drying machlne, whereby the, above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both asto its organization and method of operation, together with further objects, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a lateral sectional view of a clothes drying machine of the spray-condenser type embodying the pres ent invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of the machine, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is another longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of the machine, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary electrical diagram of a portion of the control circuit of the machine; j

Fig. 5 is a lateral sectional view of a modified form of the clothes drying machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of the machine, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 66 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is, a horizontal sectional view of the lower portion of .the machine, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 77 in Fig. 5..

Referring now .to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawings, the clothes drying machine 10 there illustrated is of the home-laundry spray-condenser type and embodies the features of the present invention. Specifically, the machine 10 comprises an upstanding housing 11that encloses an upstanding casing 12, that, in turn, encloses a substantially cylindrical clothes-receiving drum 13 that is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis disposed in a substantially horizontal position. The housing .11 includes a front wall 14 having a substantially annular front access opening 15 formed therein and carries a cooperating front door 16; while the casing 12 includes a front wall 17 having a substantially annular front access opening 18 formed therein and registering with the front access opening 15; and the drum 13 includes a substantially cylindrical perforated wall 19, a substantially circular imperforate rear end wall 20, and a substantially circular front end Wall 21 having a substantially annular front access opening 22 formed therein and registering with the front access openings 15 and 18. Also a substantially annular flexible. gasket 23, formed of rubber, or the like, is carried by the front walls 14 and. 17, bounding the front access openings 15 and 18, and projecting into the front access opening 22. The rear end wall 20 of the drum'13 carries a spider 24, that, in turn, carries a stub shaft 25; and the casing 12 includes. a rear wall 26 that carries a bearing 27 supporting the: stub shaft 25. Further, the cylindrical side wall 19 of the drum 13 is provided with a plurality. of inwardly directed imperiorate clothes tumbling vanes 28, three of which are illustrated.

Further, the casing 12 is composed of complementary upper and lower sections 29 and 30 that are suitably detachably secured together; and a bafile 31is arranged below the bottom of the drum 13 and extending between the front and rear walls 17 and 26. The general configuration of the side wall of the casing 12 is scrollshaped so that it cooperates with the cylindrical side wall 19 of the drum 13 to providea fan casing, whereby-mere rotation of the'drum 13 in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, brings about the circulation of a current of air through the drum 13 and through the easinglz. More. particularly, a bafile 32 is arranged in the upper right quadrant of the casing section 29 and coments 34 onto the cylindrical side wall 19 and through the perforations therein onto the clothes contained in the drum 13; and the upper casing section 29 carries an exterior layer of thermal insulation for the purpose of preventing radiation therefrom and the consequent loss of heat in the housing 11. The lower casing i section 30 cooperates with the baffle 31 to define a second or condensing chamber 36 therebetween; and the opposite ends of the baffle 31 terminate short of the adjacent side walls of the upper casing section 29 to define two spaced-apart and communicating passages 37 and 38 therebetween. The vanes 28 and the clothes, not shown,

tumbling in the drum 13, as well as the cooperating configurations of the drum 13 and the casing 12 bring about the circulation of the current of air through the drum 13 and within the casing 12, as previously noted; whereby j the current of air is circulated from the heating chamber 33 through the drum 13 into contact with the tumbling clothes therein, and thence via the passage 37 through the condensing chamber 36, and then via the passage 38 back into the-heating chamber 34.

The current of air is heated and dried in the heating I chamber 33 by the electric heating elements 34, whereby the clothes tumbling in the drum 13 are heated and dried by the current of air. In the condensing chamber 36 a spray of cool water is provided, as explained more fully hereinafter, whereby moisture contained in the current of air is condensed therefrom and accumulated in a longitudinally extending semi-cylindrical sump 39 formed in the bottom of the lower casing section 30. Also the spray of cool water in the condensing chamber 36 scrubs lint from the current of air circulated therethrough; whereby the water, the condensate and the lint accumulate in the sump 39, and specifically in a pool of water 40 that is maintained therein, as explained more fully hereinafter.

Also, the machine 10 comprises a pump 41 that is employed for the purpose of removing to the exterior of the sump 39 water and lint accumulating therein; which pump 41 includes a casing 42 carried by the rear end wall of the lower casing section 30. A longitudinally extending operating shaft 43 projects through the casing 42 of the pump 41 and through the lower section 30 of the casing 12 and is mounted adjacent to the opposite ends thereof for rotation in a pair of bearings 44 and 45 respectively carried by the front end wall of the lower casing section 30 and by the rear end wall of the casing 42. Arranged in the sump 39 is an elongated impeller 46 that is carried by the operating shaft,43 and provided with a pair of helical vanes 47. Arranged in an emboss 48 provided in the lower casing section 30 adjacent to the casing 42 of the pump 41 is an impeller 49 that is also carried by the operating shaft 43; and further an impeller-or rotor 50 is carried by the operating shaft 43 and arranged in the casing 42 of the pump 41. Finally, the common end wall of the lower casing section 30 disposed between the sump 39 and the casing 42 of the pump 41 has a hole 51 arranged in the upper portion thereof and communicating between the sump 39 and the interior of the casing 42 in order to provide for the passage of the water and the lint from the pool 40 into the casing 42, as explained more fully hereinafter.

When the operating shaft 43 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the impeller '46 produces a spray of cool water in the condensing chamber 36 from the pool of water 40 that is maintained in the sump 39; the impeller 49 delivers some of the water and the lint from the pool 40 through the hole 51 into the casing 42 of the pump 41; and the rotor or impeller 50 in the casing 42 of the pump 41 discharges the water and the lint delivered thereto to the exterior via a discharge conduit 52 provided in the casing 42. In, order to insure proper operation of the impeller 49 to deliver the water and the lint into the casing 42 of the pump 41, the helical vanes 47 of the impeller 46 are' pitched in a direction so that the water and the .lint in the sump 39 are moved toward the impeller 49 as a consequenceof the rotation of the impeller 46.

Further, the machine 10 comprises a water supply system including an inlet conduit 53 that is adapted to be supplied with cool water under gauge pressure from the city water main, a communicating fixture 54 housing a strainer, not shown, a communicating flow regulator 55, a communicating control valve 56, a communicating tube 57, and a communicating jet nozzle 58. The control valve 56 is of the solenoid type being provided with an operating solenoid indicated at 59. A hole 60 is formed in the lower portion of the rear end wall of the lower casing section 30, below the baffle 31, and communicating with the condensing chamber 36, and horizontally aligned with respect to the jet nozzle 58. In the arrangement, the end of the jet'nozzle 58 is displaced rearwardly from the hole 60 formed in the rear end wall of the lower casing section 30 by a distance of at least 1" and is carried by a substantially cup-shaped member 61 secured to the outer surface of the rear end wall of the lower casing section 30.

In the normal operation of the machine 10, cool water under gauge pressure is supplied to the'inlet conduit 53 and passes through the fixture 54, wherein any foreign material therein is strained therefrom, and then flows via the flow control regulator 55 and the control valve 56 in its open position, and through the tube 57 into the jet nozzle 58. The fiow control regulator 55 is preferably of the flexible diaphragm compression aperture or throat type and is designed to maintain a substantially constant flow of the cool water therethrough of approximately 0.4 gal./min., notwithstanding considerable variation of the gauge pressure of the'cool water supplied to the inlet conduit 53. In the jet nozzle 58, the pressure head of .the cool water is converted into a corresponding velocity head of the stream of cool water projected therefrom through the air gap disposed between theend of the jet nozzle 58 and the hole 60 formed in the rear end wall of the lower casing section 30 and thence through the hole 60 into the condensing chamber 36 below the baffle 31. This arrangement insures the continuous supply of cool water into the water in the pool 40 contained in the sump 39; however it is again noted that the spray of cool water 111 the condensing chamber 36 is produced fundamentally by rotation of the impeller 46, and the fundamental purpose of the stream of cool water is to maintain the water in the pool 40 in a cool condition. The rotation of the impeller 46 also agitates the water in the pool 40 so as to retain in suspension the lint accumulated therein, whereby the rotation of the impeller 49 continuously delivers the water and the suspended lint into the pump casing 42 so that the rotation of the rotor 50 in the casing 42 discharges the water and the lint delivered to the pump 41 to the exterior of the machine 10 through the discharge conduit 52.

During the operation of the machine 10, should the pressure of the cool water in the city water main become substantially reduced, the jet nozzle 58 may fail to produce a high velocity stream of water projected through the hole 60, but this is of no consequence as the low pressure stream of water projected through the hole 60 still enters the condensing chamber 36 for the purpose of retaining cool the water in the pool 40. Moreover in this event, should the jet nozzle 58 drip, the water is caught in the member 61 and enters the pool 40 through a hole 62 formed adjacent to the bottom of the member 61 in the rear end wall of the lower casing section 30; Further, another hole 63 is formed in. the upper portion of the member 61 and communicating with the exterior for the purpose of positively preventing the accumulation of any head of water therein so that under no condition can the jet nozzle 58 become submerged in water contained in the member 61. In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that a low pressure of the cool'water supplied from the city water main to the inlet conduit 53 does not cause improper operation of the machine 10 by virtue of the circumstance that the spray of cool water in the condensing chamber 36 is produced by the impeller 46 from the water in the pool 40 accumulated in the sump 39.

Now during the operation of the machine 10, should the abnormal condition appear of a subatmospheric pressure of the water in the connected city water main, there is a back-siphoning action through the inlet conduit 53 since the control valve 56 occupies its open position at this time. However, there is absolutely nobacksiphoning of process water from the sump 39 under the 2&95360 65"that carries two V'-pulleys 66 and 67 on the outer 'end'ithereof. The pulley 66.is'alignedwith respect to .aV-pulley68 carried onthe outer end of the operating shaft 43, the pulleys 66 and 68 beinglinterconnected by an associated V-belt69. The pulley 67.is' aligned with respect to a V-pulley 70 carried on an idler shaft 71, the i pulleys 67 and .76 being interconnected by an associated v-belt 71. Also a V-pulley'72'is carried by'the idler :shaft 71 that is aligned with respect "to a V-pulley 73 that is carried, on the outer end of the stub shaft 25', the

"pulleys 72and 73 beinginterconnected by an associated T \V-be'lt 74. Accordingly, when the motor 64 is operated "botlrthe stub shaftr25 and the operating shaft 43 are rotated in the counterclockwise directionyas viewed in :Fig. l. This rotation of the stub shaft 25 effects rotation of the drum 13 and the consequent circulation of the'currentofair therethrough and through the casing '12, in the manner previously described; while this rotartion of the operating shaft 431causes theimpeller 46 to produce the spray of cool water in the condensing cham- -ber 36. Further, this rotation of the operating shaft 43 :causes the impeller 49 to deliver the water and the lint ifromthe pool 44) contained inrthe'sump 39'into the easing-42 of the "pump 41, wherebywhe rotating rotor or impeller 50 discharges'the waterand the lint'from the leasing 42 of the pump 4110 the exterior.

Further, the machine .10 is provided with an electric control circuit, a portion of which isindicated in Fig. 4; which circuit includes a three-wire Edison source and :certain control elements including a timer 75 and a hydrostatic switch 76, as well as the solenoid 59 of the control valve56. The hydrostatic switch 76 includes an :expansible bellows 77 that communicates directly with an associated opening provided in the lower wall of the lower casing'section 30, whereby the wateriin'the pool 40 stands in the bellows 77. Also the hydrostatic switch 76 includes a contact bridging member 78 that controls -a pair of contacts that are arranged in series relation with the solenoid 59 and the timer 75 across the power source. Thus it will be understood that in the cycle of thernachine '10, the timer75 closes the circuit for the solenoid 59, whereby the control valve 56 is operated from its normal closed position into its open position placing the inlet conduit 53 into communication with the jet nozzle 58 so that the stream of cool water from the city water main is projected through the hole 69 into the condensing chamber 36. In the operation of the machine 10, after a normal head of water is accumulated in thepool 40, the rate of removal of the water from thepool 40 by the impeller 49 is equal to the rate vof'supplyofthe water tothe pool 40 'from the jet nozzle 58. Toward the end of the cycle of the machine 10, the timer 75 opens the 'circuitifor energizing the solenoid 59, whereby the control valve 56 is returned back into its normal closedposition bringing about the cut off of the supply-of water to the pool .4tl,whereby continued rotation of the impeller 49 eifects emptying of 'all'of the water and the lint from the pool 40 contained in the 'sump 39 intothe pump 41 andthe'consequent discharge thereof to theiexterior. Of course, at'the conclusion of the cycle of the machine 10 operation of the motor 64 is condition might arise in the operation of the machine in the event of breakage of the belt'69. Accordingly, it willbe understood that the arrangement of the hydro- 'static-switch 76 positively prevents the accumulation of an'undue quantity of water inihepool 'anditlre con- ".sequent flooding ofthe condensing chamber :36. For

6 example, :the rhydrostatic switch 7.6 :may the set do be top! er-ated 111110. :itsropen position :in ;response. to a head of water-in the-1100140 in exccss'of 3".

.Referringnow to Figs. 5, 6. and 7,, of -the-drawings, .the modified form of the clothes drying machine there illustrated .and embodying the features of the present invention is fundamentally identical to the machine :10 described in :detailabove, except that the operating shaft 143 that :drives' the impeller 146 disposed in the condensing chamber 136and .the rotor or impeller 151) of therpump 141.is.dispo.sed in a verticalposition, rather thanin a horizontal position. vThus in this formof the machine 110, the casing '142 of the pump .141is arranged directly .below the central portion of the sump 139 formed in the. lowercasing sectiona; and a restricted opening .179 is formedin the. lowericentral portion of the bottom wall of thelower ,casing-.section'130 in surroundiing relationwith respect .to-the .operatingshaft 143 and communicating between thesump "139 and the interior of .theicasing 142. Of course, the impeller 146 is dis- :posed below the central portion of the battle 131; and the hole 160 that is formed inthe .rearend wall of the :lower casingsection 130 isx-also arranged .below the bafile .131 adjacent to one side of theimpeller 1416.

in the operation of the machine 11%,themotor164 efiectszrotation of the-drum 113 in the counterclockwise direction, whereby the current'of air .is circulated from ithe' heating chamber 133 through the'drum 113 into contact with the clothes tumbling therein and thence via the passage '137 into the condensing chamber 136, and via the passage 138 back intothe heating :chamber 133 into contactwith the heating elements 134. Of course, rotation of ithe operating shaft 143 by the motor.16.4 effects flinging of the water in the pool contained in rthetsump 139 upwardly andoutwardly in the radial direction, andithe consequent production of a spray of cool water in the condensing chamber 136 so that the'moisture and the lint is removed from the current of circulating air, and accumulatedlin the P0011140. .Moreover, rota- Ytion'o'f'the'impeller 146 tends to drive the water in the pool 14.0 outwardly away from the restricted opening 179 in order that'water is maintained in thepool 140 in the sump 139; however, sometof the water, as well as 'the lintsuspended'therein, escapes fromthe pool 140 'in the sump 139'through the restricted opening: 179:into the casing :142 of'the pump 141 and is dischargjedto the'ex- Iterior oftthe machine 110. Ultimately in the'cycle of operation of the machine 110, when the supply of cool water via the hole Iffrom thefjet nozzle 158 is arrested, the water and the'lint in the pool 140 gradually pass through therestricted opening 179 "into the pump 141, andaredischargedlto the 'exteriorof the machine 110, ietfecting-complete emptying of the sump139.

The machine 110 may be providedwith'a control "circuit identical'to that provided in the machine 10, a fragmentary portionof which is illustrated in Fig. 4, as previously described. 'ln' this arrangement, the'hydrostatic switch 176 is provided with a flexible bellowsnot shown,

that communicates with an associated opening provided in'the bottom wall of the lower casing section 130 so 'thatthe head of water in the pool 140 stands in the bellows mentioned, for the purpose previously explained; "and of course, the'pair of 'contacts,.not shown, controlled by'the hydrostatic switch 176 is included in the circuit for energizing the'solenoid 1590f theicontrol valve 156 for'the purposepreviously described,

In view of the'foregoing, it will be understood that rineach of the machines'ltland 1'10, rotation of the impeller'provided in the sump disposed be'low the condensing chamber effects the production of a spray of cool water in the condensing "chamber, whereby satisfactory operation of the'machine is independent of the pressure of the water in the connected city'water main.

While there has been described whatris at presentcon- 'sidered to be the preferred embodiment'of the invention,

it will be understood that variousmodifications may be madethereimand it is intended to cover in the appended claims allsuchmodifications as fall within the truespir'it and scopeof'the invention.

-What is claimed is:

1. In a :clothes drying machine including-a substantially i horizontally I disposed "and trotatably mounted drum [adapted to'rece'ive clothes tobe :driedprneans for frotattingssaidtdrumzin orderzto tumbleithe contained clothes, wall sstrueture :defiriing 1a rpassage conummicating rat the opposite ends thereof with two spaced-apart portions of said drum, said wall structure also defining first and second spaced-apart chambers in said passage, said first chamber being disposed adjacent to the top of said drum and said second chamber being disposed adjacent to and below the bottom of said drum, said wall structure further defining a sump disposed below said second chamber, means for producing circulation of a current of air from said first chamber through said drum into contact with the contained clothes and thence into said second chamber and back into said first chamber, and means for heating said current of air as it is passed through said first chamber; the combination comprising means for introducing cool water into said sump in order to provide a pool of water therein, a rotatably mounted impeller arranged in said sump and at least partially immersed in the water in said pool, rotation of said impeller producing an upwardly directed and finely divided spray of cool water in said second chamber and efiecting agitation of the water in said pool, means for rotating said impeller, means including a baffle disposed adjacent to the top of said second chamber and below said drum for preventing said spray of cool water in said second chamber from contacting said drum, said current of air being cooled and scrubbed by said spray of cool water as it is passed through said second chamber to effect the condensation of moisture and the removal of lint therefrom, the moisture and the lint thus removed from said current of air in said second chamber accumulating in the water in said pool, agitation of the water in said pool retaining the lint therein in suspension, a pump operative to discharge to the exterior water from said pool together with the lint suspended therein, and means for operating said pump. 1

2. The clothes drying machine combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said pump includes a rotor, and further comprising a common operating shaft for said impeller and said rotor.

3. In a clothes drying machine including a substantially horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted drum adapted to receive clothes to be dried, means for rotating said drum in order to tumble the contained clothes, wall structure defining a passage communicating at the opposite ends thereof with two spaced-apart portions of said drum, said wall structure also defining first and second spaced-apart chambers in said passage, said wall structure further defining a sump disposed below said second chamber, means for producing circulation of a current of air from said first chamber through said drum into contact with the contained clothes and thence into said second chamber and back into said first chamber, and means for heating said current of air as it is passed through said first chamber; the combination comprising means for introducing cool water into said sump in order to provide a pool of water therein, a first impeller arranged in said sump and mounted for rotation, rotation of said first impeller producing a finely divided spray of cool water in said second chamber, means for rotating said first impeller, said current of air being cooled and scrubbed by said spray of cool water as it is passed through said second chamber to effect the condensation of moisture and the removal of lint therefrom, the moisture and the lint thus removed from said current of air in said second chamber accumulating in the water in said pool, a pump operative to discharge to the exterior water and lint delivered thereto, means for operating said pump, a second impeller arranged in said sump and mounted for rotation, rotation of said second impeller delivering water and lint from said pool to said pump, and means for rotating said second impeller.

4. The clothes drying machine combination set fortli in claim 3, wherein said pump includes a rotor, and further comprising a common operating shaft for said first and second impellers and said rotor.

5. In a clothes drying machine including a substantially horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted drum adapted to receive clothes to be dried, means for rotating said drum in order to tumble the contained clothes, wall structure defining a passage communicating at the opposite ends thereof with two spaced-apart portions of said drum, said wall structure also defining first and second spaced-apart chambers in said passage, said wall structure further defining an elongated sump disposed below said second chamber, means for producing circulation of a current of air from said first chamber through ill) said drum into contact with the contained clothes and thence into said second chamber and back into said first chamber, and means for heating said current of air as it is passed through said first chamber; the combination comprising means for introducing cool water into said sump in order to provide a pool of water therein, an elongated impeller arranged in said sump and mounted for rotation, rotation of said impeller producing a finely divided spray of cool water in said second chamber, means for rotating said impeller, said current of air being cooled and scrubbed by said spray of cool water as it is passed through said second chamber to effect the condensation of moisture and the removal of lint therefrom, the moisture and the lint thus removed from said current of air in said second chamber accumulating in the water in said pool, a pump operative to discharge to the exterior water and lint delivered thereto, means for operating said pump, and means including said impeller for delivering water and lint from said pool to said pump.

6. The clothes drying machine combination set forth in claim 5, wherein said impeller includes a plurality of elongated and spirally disposed vanes, and the direction of rotation of said impeller is such that the water in said pool is moved by said vanes toward said pump by the mere rotation of said impeller.

7. In a clothes drying machine including a substantially horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted drum adapted to receive clothes to be dried, means for rotating said drum in order to tumble the contained clothes, wall structure defining a passage communicating at the opposite ends thereof with two spaced-apart portions of said drum, said wall structure also defining first and second spaced-apart chambers in said passage, said wall structure further defining a sump disposed below said second chamber, means for producing circulation of a current of air from said first chamber through said drum into contact with the contained clothes and thence into said second chamber and back into said first chamber, and means for heating said current of air as it is passed through said first chamber; the combination comprising an inlet conduit disposed eXteriorly of said Wall structure and supplied with cool water under pressure, said wall structure having a hole formed therein adjacent to said second chamber, means connected to said inlet conduit for projecting a stream of cool water therefrom through said hole into said second chamber and thence into said sump, a rotatably mounted impeller arranged in said sump, rotation of said impeller producing a finely divided spray of cool water in said second chamber and effecting agitation of the water in said pool, means for rotating said impeller, said current of air being cooled and scrubbed by said spray of cool water as it is passed through said second chamber to eifect the condensation of moisture and the removal of lint therefrom, the moisture and the lint thus removed from said current of air in said second chamber accumulating in the water in said pool, agitation of the water in said pool retaining the lint therein in suspension, a pump operative to discharge to the exterior water from said pool together with this lint suspended therein, and means for operating said pump.

8. In a clothes drying machine including a substantially horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted drum adapted to receive clothes to be dried, means for rotating said drum in order to tumble the contained clothes, wall structure defining a passage communicating at the opposite ends thereof with two spaced-apart portions of said drum, said wall structure also defining first and second spaced-apart chambers in said passage, said second chamber being disposed adjacent to the top of said drum and said second chamber being disposed adjacent to and below the bottom of said drum, said wall structure further defining a sump disposed below said second chamber, means for producing circulation of a current of air from said first chamber through said drum into contact with the contained clothes and thence into said second chamber and back into said first chamber, and means for heating said current of air as it is passed through said first chamber; the combination comprising means for introducing cool water into said sump in order to provide a pool of water therein, a pump including a casing housing a rotor, means defining a conduit provided with an inlet and an outlet respectively communicating with said sump and with said casing, the inlet of said conduit being disposed above the bottom of said sump, a rotatably am ss mounted? impeller arranged in. said: sumpi: arid; at least partially immersed in .the,water in said-pool, rotation of said impeller producing an udwa'rdly directed and finely dividedt-spray of cool water inv said second chamber, means including a. baffle. disposed adjacent to th top: of said second chamber. andbelow, saidi'dpur-n for pr. r'rtin'g Sald' spray of: coolwater. in. said. chamben from contacting said drum, said. currentof. air, being cooled andlscrubbed by said; spray of coolmwater as it. is passed through said second chamber. to, eifect. the condensation of moisture and; the" removal of. lint. therefrom; the. moisture and "the lint thus removed from said current of air in said second chamber accumulating in the water in said pool, rotation of said impeller also delivering water and lint from said pool into the inlet of said conduit to be conducted therethrough into said casing, means for rotating said impeller, rotation of said rotor pumping to the exterior water and lint delivered to said casing, and means for rotating said rotor.

9. In a clothes drying machine including a substantially horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted drum adapted to receive clothes to be dried, means for rotating said drum in order to tumble the contained clothes, wall structure defining a passage communicating at the opposite ends thereof with two spaced-apart portions of said drum, said wall structure also defining first and second spaced-apart chambers in said passage, said first chamber being disposed adjacent to the top of said drum and said second chamber being disposed adjacent to and below the bottom of said drum, said wall structure further defining a sump disposed below said second chamber, means for producing circulation of a current of air from said first chamber through said drum into contact with the contained clothes and thence into said second chamber and back into said first chamber, and means for heating said current of air as it is passed through said first chamber; the combination comprising means for introducing cool water into said sump in order to provide a pool of water therein, a rotatably mounted impeller arranged in said sump and at least partially immersed in the water in said pool, rotation of said impeller producing an upwardly directed and finely divided spray of cool water in said second chamber, means for rotating said impeller, means including a baffle disposed adjacent to the top of said second chamber and below said drum for preventing said spray of cool water in said second chamber from contacting said drum, said current of air being cooled and scrubbed by said spray of cool water as it is passed through said second chamber to effect the condensation of moisture and the removal of lint therefrom,

the moisture and the lint thus removed from said current of air in said second chamber accumulating in the water in said pool, a pump operative to discharge to the exterior water and lint delivered thereto, means for operating said pump, and means for delivering water and lint from said pool to said pump.

10. In a clothes drying machine including a substantially horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted drum adapted to receive clothes to be dried, means for rotating said drum in order to tumble the contained clothes, wall structure defining a passage communicating at the opposite ends thereof with two spaced-apart portions of said drum, said wall structure also defining first and second spaced-apart chambers in said passage, said wall structure further defining a sump disposed below said second chamber, means for producing circulation of a current of air from said first chamber through said drum into contact with the contained clothes and thence into said second chamber and back into said first chamber, and means for heating said current of air as it is passed through said first chamber; the combination comprising means for introducing cool water into said sump in order to provide a pool of water therein, a rotatably mounted impeller arranged in said sump, rotation of said impeller producing a finely divided spray of cool water in said second chamber, means for rotating said impeller, said current of air being cooled and scrubbed by said spray of cool water as it is passed through said second chamber to effect the condensation of moisture and the removal of lint therefrom, the moisture and the lint thus removed from said current of air in said second chamber accumulating in the water in said pool, a pump provided with a casing housing a rotor, said casing being disposed below said sump, means for delivering water and lint from said pool to said casing, rotation of said rotor discharging 1.0 to: the exterior iivater; and. liirt; "delivered; to; said; casing; and means for rotating said rotor.

'lrl; Thegcloth'Sadryingzmachine; combinatiomse't forth iili claim 10, andafunthericoiuprisingxa common). operating shaft for said impeller and saidzroton'.

12;. In; a.sclothes.zdryingz machine including'a: substam tially horizontallydisposed anda'rotatably'mounted drurirv adaptedtosreceive: clothes toibeidried; means-for rotatingsaidfd rumwin order to:tumble=the:contairied clothesgwall? structure: definingi a passagez communicating at. the "0111-" posite: ends; thereof? with: two spacerlaapart: portions; Ofl s'aidtdrumgjsai'diwallz structure alsoidefinirfg sec ond: spaced-apart: phambersim saidzpassage, said wall structure furthenvd'e'finingzaa sump: disposedt below'said second chamber, means for producing circulation of a current of air from said first chamber through said drum into contact with the contained clothes and thence into said second chamber and back into said first chamber, and means for heating said current of air as it is passed through said first chamber; the combination comprising means for introducing cool water into said sump in order to provide a pool of water therein, a rotatably mounted impeller arranged in said sump, rotation of said impeller producing a finely divided spray of cool water in said second chamber, said current of air being cooled and scrubbed by said spray of cool water as it is passed through said second chamber to effect the condensation of moisture and the removal of lint therefrom, the moisture and the lint thus removed from said current of air in said second chamber accumulating in the water in said pool, a pump provided with a casing housing a rotor, said casing being disposed below said sump, a common operating shaft for said impeller and said rotor, the bottom of said sump having a restricted opening formed therein and surrounding said operating shaft to accommodate the delivery of water and lint from said pool to said casing, rotation of said rotor discharging to the exterior water and lint delivered to said casing, and means for rotating said operating shaft.

13. In a clothes drying machine including a substantially horizontally disposed and rotatably mounted drum adapted to receive clothes to be dried, means for rotating said drum in order to tumble the contained clothes, wall structure defining a passage communicating at the opposite ends thereof with two spaced-apart portions of said drum, said wall structure also defining first and second spaced-apart chambers in said passage, said first chamber being disposed adjacent to the top of said drum and said second chamber being disposed adjacent to and below the bottom of said drum, said wall structure further defining a sump disposed below said second chamber, means for producing circulation of a current of air from said first chamber through said drum into contact with the contained clothes and thence into said second chamber and back into said first chamber, and means for heating said current of air as it is passed through said first chamber; the combination comprising a valve operative to control the introduction of cool water into said sump in order to provide a pool of water therein, means responsive to the quantity of water in said pool for selectively controlling the operation of said valve so as to maintain substantially a given quantity of cool water in said pool, a rotatably mounted impeller arranged in said sump and at least partially immersed in the water in said pool, rotation of said impeller producing an upwardly directed and finely divided spray of cool water in said second chamber, means for rotating said impeller, means including a baffie disposed adjacent to the top of said second chamber and below said drum for preventing said spray of cool water in said second chamber from contacting said drum, said current of air being cooled and scrubbed by said spray of cool water as it is passed through said second chamber to effect the condensation of moisture and the removal of lint therefrom, the moisture and the lint thus removed from said current of air in said second chamber accumulating in the water in said pool, a pump operative to discharge to the exterior water and lint delivered thereto, means for operating said pump, and means for continuously delivering to said pump water from said pool together with the lint therein. 7

14. The clothes drying machine combination set forth in claim 10, wherein said impeller is at least partially immersed in the water in said pool and is rotated about an upstanding axis so that said spray of cool water is thrown upwardly and outwardly from said pool into said second chamber by said impeller incident to rotation thereof.

15. The clothes drying machine combination set forth in claim 10, wherein said impeller is arranged in said sump adjacent to the bottom wall thereof and at least partially immersed in the water in said pool and rotated about an upstanding axis so as to sweep some of the water in said pool out of the area disposed below said impeller and adjacent to said bottom wall, and wherein said means for delivering water and lint from said pool to said casing includes an opening through said bottom wall disposed below said impeller so that the flow of water and lint from said pool through said opening is retarded by the rotation of said impeller.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Comins Oct. 6, 1908 Schmieg Mar. 5, 1940 Mode Dec. 19, 1944 Pugh Oct. 19, 1948 Pugh Nov. 16, 1948 Constantine Mar. 25, 1952 Constantine Aug. 19, 1952 

